*'''November 2012: GloboSol annual report: Switzerland/Germany - Partner-meeting “Skillshare”''' - As a “première”, some of our closest friends and solar colleagues from various foreign countries were invited to visit [[Globosol]] with [[Michael Götz]]. In the course of a manifold study and sight-seeing program, they also became acquainted with parts of [[Switzerland]] and southern [[Germany]]. Unfortunately only two guests were able to participate: [[Lorena Harp]] from Oaxaca, [[Mexico]], the co-organizer of the project “Food-stalls in Mexico”, and [[Sourakatou Ouro-Bangna]], head of the solar center “Solasol” in Sokode,[[Togo]]. It was a stimulating event that nevertheless raised questions and unfortunately required significant administrative expense.

*'''March 2009:''' [[Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement]] (JVE) taught over 150 people how to build and use solar cookers over the past year and a half. During a general assembly meeting in late 2007, about 100 participants from several cities in [[Togo]], Cote d’Ivoire and [[Benin]] gathered for a workshop in Notse. Over the course of three days, participants learned basic solar cooking concepts and skills, participated in the construction of their own solar [[CooKit]]s, gained valuable management skills, and heard testimony from JVE project participants about the many benefits solar cookers have brought to their lives. One such testimony came from a women involved with a JVE solar water pasteurization project in the Vo prefecture. She discussed how solar cooker use has reduced the number of pulmonary illnesses in the community, and how pasteurization skills have similarly lessened the incidence of waterborne disease. She also spoke vividly about how her status in the community had changed because of her involvement with the project, so much so that the chief now refers all issues of natural resources management to her — an example, she says, of how the role of women in the community is elevated with empowering projects like these. In August, 2008, JVE organized Operation Amis du Soleil, a five-day gathering in the Casablanca quarter of Lome that brought together dozens of people, mostly youth, to learn about solar cooker use and to build solar cookers for JVE’s solar water pasteurization project in Vo prefecture. (Eleven women’s groups in Vo produce solar cookers, but they are not always able to keep up with demand).

*'''March 2009:''' [[Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement]] (JVE) taught over 150 people how to build and use solar cookers over the past year and a half. During a general assembly meeting in late 2007, about 100 participants from several cities in [[Togo]], Cote d’Ivoire and [[Benin]] gathered for a workshop in Notse. Over the course of three days, participants learned basic solar cooking concepts and skills, participated in the construction of their own solar [[CooKit]]s, gained valuable management skills, and heard testimony from JVE project participants about the many benefits solar cookers have brought to their lives. One such testimony came from a women involved with a JVE solar water pasteurization project in the Vo prefecture. She discussed how solar cooker use has reduced the number of pulmonary illnesses in the community, and how pasteurization skills have similarly lessened the incidence of waterborne disease. She also spoke vividly about how her status in the community had changed because of her involvement with the project, so much so that the chief now refers all issues of natural resources management to her — an example, she says, of how the role of women in the community is elevated with empowering projects like these. In August, 2008, JVE organized Operation Amis du Soleil, a five-day gathering in the Casablanca quarter of Lome that brought together dozens of people, mostly youth, to learn about solar cooker use and to build solar cookers for JVE’s solar water pasteurization project in Vo prefecture. (Eleven women’s groups in Vo produce solar cookers, but they are not always able to keep up with demand).

Contents

Events

News and Recent Developments

November 2012: GloboSol annual report: Switzerland/Germany - Partner-meeting “Skillshare” - As a “première”, some of our closest friends and solar colleagues from various foreign countries were invited to visit Globosol with Michael Götz. In the course of a manifold study and sight-seeing program, they also became acquainted with parts of Switzerland and southern Germany. Unfortunately only two guests were able to participate: Lorena Harp from Oaxaca, Mexico, the co-organizer of the project “Food-stalls in Mexico”, and Sourakatou Ouro-Bangna, head of the solar center “Solasol” in Sokode,Togo. It was a stimulating event that nevertheless raised questions and unfortunately required significant administrative expense.

March 2009:Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE) taught over 150 people how to build and use solar cookers over the past year and a half. During a general assembly meeting in late 2007, about 100 participants from several cities in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin gathered for a workshop in Notse. Over the course of three days, participants learned basic solar cooking concepts and skills, participated in the construction of their own solar CooKits, gained valuable management skills, and heard testimony from JVE project participants about the many benefits solar cookers have brought to their lives. One such testimony came from a women involved with a JVE solar water pasteurization project in the Vo prefecture. She discussed how solar cooker use has reduced the number of pulmonary illnesses in the community, and how pasteurization skills have similarly lessened the incidence of waterborne disease. She also spoke vividly about how her status in the community had changed because of her involvement with the project, so much so that the chief now refers all issues of natural resources management to her — an example, she says, of how the role of women in the community is elevated with empowering projects like these. In August, 2008, JVE organized Operation Amis du Soleil, a five-day gathering in the Casablanca quarter of Lome that brought together dozens of people, mostly youth, to learn about solar cooker use and to build solar cookers for JVE’s solar water pasteurization project in Vo prefecture. (Eleven women’s groups in Vo produce solar cookers, but they are not always able to keep up with demand).

August 2008:Sena Alouka of Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement writes: "I am very happy to inform you that this morning we have started a mass production week, a special operation in Lomé, in response to a special interest expressed by the quarter where our office is based, Casablanca. Actually, the people of Casablanca kept blaming us for bringing the benefits of the solar cooking and water pasteurisation only to the Vo region women, whereas, they who are close to our office, do not even understand how it all work. So we decided, in cooperation with the Casablanca Development Committee to organise a weeklong training for all interested volunteers, youth especially, to train them about the cookits production. Iam thrilled with joy to inform you that, all the men and women of the place gathered this morning to attend the opening ceremony. Several old men and women were inthe attendance. At the time, Iam writting this mail about 55 young people are either preparing, the glue, some applying the foil while others are cutting the cookers. We have deliberately decided to organise it at the public place of Casablanca, next to the main road, thus bringing lot of attention and interest. The name OPERATION AMIS DU SOLEIL (Operation Friends of the Sun) is aimed at creating awareness around solar applications and harness the volunteer spirit of young people in the area where JVE is heardquatered for the benefit of the planet. A new club (CLUB DES AMIS DU SOLEIL) will be created at the end of this week (see program) and will help spread the solar good news to other areas of the city. On friday, a football match, the distribution of certificates to participants and other events will closed the week, with a serious media coverage. I am sending some pictures, which are just 3 hours old, in which you can see this morning's introduction to our project, demonstration, testing the heat, youth participants taking note of the lessons, preparing the glue, applying the foil and Q&A session. It is a nice idea for which Iam very proud about. It will be wonderful, if we can organise a second session of this in another Quarter, as many other quarters of Lomé are asking us to extend the initiative to their area as well. I am convinced that cardboard are a wonderful tool to address some of the energy problems we face today. The amazement i saw in the face of people, even well educated people who stopped by to see what was going on, is an eloquent testimony of the benefits of the solar cookers."

December 2007: The General Assembly of Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement was organised, 21-23 December 2007 in Notse, 150 km N of Lome. It was a skillshare on sun cooking designed for youth delegates, JVE-trained women sun cooks, partners from Togo, but also from Côte d'Ivoire and Benin. About a 100 participants attended with good gender representation. The message from the conference: World Populations, please GO SOLAR! Photos from the event are here. You can also read a report from the event.

April 2007: Dozens of delegates from many parts of Togo and Ghana attended a conference last December in Lome themed “climate change: a socio-political challenge.” The conference was organized by Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement (JVE) and showcased solar cooking and solar water pasteurization. Demonstrations and construction workshops were available to conference attendees. Beneficiaries of a JVE solar project shared testimonials of how solar cooking has changed lives in the Vo region. Also attending the conference were Togo’s Deputy Director of the Ministry of Environment, the Chief Cabinet to the Minister of Youth, and representatives of the media. Contact:Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement